Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Review

Bringing baby home to a small bedroom? A Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper can help provide comfort during baby's first few months.

If your bedroom is short on space, a bassinet sleeper may be the right choice for your family. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that for at least the first six months of their lives (and ideally the entire first year), infants should sleep in the same room as their parents, but not in the same bed. A bassinet is a comfortable way to keep baby right next to your bed in the early months — perfect for those middle-of-the-night nursing sessions and bonding moments.

Another reason parents love a bassinet sleeper is due to its compact size. Let’s face it, babies can come with a lot of stuff, and that stuff takes up a lot of space. A bassinet sleeper allows families to provide their bundle of joy with a safe sleeping space without taking up quite as much space as a crib. Plus, if you haven’t quite put all those finishing touches to your your baby’s nursery, a bassinet sleeper can be a great compromise until their room is ready.

Moms who’ve undergone C-sections find a swivel bassinet sleeper makes recovery easier, as they don’t have to get up and down so frequently to tend to baby. The Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper simply swivels over the bed for easy access, making recovery more comfortable.

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Who It’s For

The Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper allows mom and baby to remain close to each other while sleeping, making nighttime care easier. They are best suited for babies under 20 pounds who aren’t yet rolling over on their own. Thanks to their lightweight, portable design, the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper can be used for both nighttime sleep and daytime naps.

Why We Love It

All models of the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper, including the Essentia Series, feature the 360-degree swivel motion, as well as a lowering sidewall to provide easy access to baby. Its height puts baby right at eye level, so she can feel calmed and soothed by your presence.

All four versions of the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper are incredibly simple to put together, requiring just a screwdriver and batteries for the soothing center. The bed rails click together, and boast a number-matching system that makes setup nearly foolproof. Finally, pop the sleep area onto the base, make any necessary adjustments, and you’re good to go.

Once you’ve adjusted the bassinet height and slid the base under the bed, the sleeper is ready. The patented locking sidewall features a unique lowering design that responds to gentle pressure, and automatically returns to the upright position for added safety. With 360-degree rotation, you can easily bring baby closer for middle of the night feeds, changes, or snuggles.

The storage pockets on either end of the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper let you keep a few essentials, such as diapers and wipes, close at hand. Models with the soothing center feature a back-to-bed reminder and vibration, and a 30-minute auto shutoff.

There are optional mobiles to keep baby busy, while the newborn insert provides a narrower sleeping surface to help make the transition from the womb a bit easier. The sleep surface can be removed and used with the Halo Bassinest portable stand to provide a safe and secure nap spot anywhere in the home.

• You’ll still need a crib at some point • Add-on accessories increase overall cost

The Verdict

The cost of still having to purchase a crib for your child does make the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper more of a luxury item than a must-have, but the added convenience of not having to get out of bed for nighttime feeding and snuggles is certainly worth it. Especially for new moms recovering from major surgery, it can help speed recovery from childbirth and help everyone get more sleep. The 20-pound weight limit is pretty standard among newborn products, but larger babies might not make it to the 5-month age limit.

While there are many bassinet sleepers available on the market today, the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is the only one that rotates 360 degrees to make it easier to get in and out of bed and reach your baby. It boasts a space-saving design. For these reasons, it’s one of our top picks for best bassinets.

What Moms Say

“My daughter is 9 weeks, I have the Halo and love it. She has been sleeping in it since she came home from the hospital and I don't know how people survive with anything else. I had a scheduled C-section and knew ahead of time that I would need something that didn't require me to bend down every time the baby wakes up. The Halo can be adjusted to be at any height you want and it rotates 360 degrees so it is very easy to lift the baby in and out when you're exhausted in the middle of the night … I highly recommend it.” — risaby

“I have one and I think it was worth the investment. I loved that it was right next to my bed and I could watch my son while laying down. The swivel function is really useful, as is the flexible side to take the baby… We are using it now two years later for my second child.” —shanamac22

Where to Buy It

The Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is available on Amazon. You can also find it in Target and Walmart stores, and on their respective websites. There is a twin sleeper model that is available through Amazon, and buybuy BABY.

Caitlin McCormack is a Toronto-based freelance writer specializing in health & wellness and parenting content. When she's not busy in front of the computer, you can find her wrangling her two rambunctious sons at the park, or tackling DIY projects on her century-old fixer-upper.